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Tag: EFCC

  • Appeal Court to EFCC: You can’t freeze Fayose’s account

    Appeal Court to EFCC: You can’t freeze Fayose’s account

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has secured another judicial victory against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his accounts domiciled at the Zenith Bank which was frozen last year.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday threw out an application for injunction restraining the anti-graft agency from freezing the accounts the governor is operating with Zenith Bank.

    The account was last year June  frozen over allegation that it contained a sum of N2.999 billion out of the 3.2 billion dollars suspected to have been distributed through the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    But the account was unfrozen on December 13 last year after which Fayose withdrew the sum of N5 million from the bank’s branch in Ado-Ekiti shortly after the judgment was delivered. The EFCC filed an appeal against the judgment on grounds that the money was a proceed of crime.

    The Appeal Court in panel comprising Justices Ahmad Belgore, Fatima Akinbami and Paul Elechi in a unanimous judgment held that that the EFCC did not attach notice of appeal and the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti judgment of December 13, 2016, which ordered the anti-graft agency to unfreeze the governor’s account that the EFCC appealed against.

    The judgement read by Justice Akinbami said: “No valid appeal has been made against the judgement of the lower court which unfreeze the account. Against the judgment the EFCC was appealing against was not attached to this application.

    “EFCC also failed to show sufficient evidence that the money in the account was a proceed of crime as claimed. In doing this, we expect the EFCC to have showed evidence that the plaintiff has been tried for criminal offence before for it to assume that he can receive proceed of crime.

    “We also found that there was suppression of facts to get the account frozen in the first instance.  It was also noted that Governor Fayose in line with Section 308 enjoys immunity and his personal account can’t be frozen

    “Having not done all these as demanded by law and equity, as those facts were facts that would assist in exercising the court’s discretion either for or against as it is an application  that is predicated on discretion of the court. The application is hereby thrown out,”.

    The court also said that the alleged damning intelligent report by the EFCC, which it claimed to have received concerning money purportedly paid into Governor Fayose’s account by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro was not provided nor attached for the court to see.

    It described EFCC’s claim on the receipt of an intelligent report concerning money purportedly paid into Governor Fayose’s account by Obanikoro as mere speculation, saying; “the court does not embark on speculation.”

    The court also held that since the EFCC had admitted that N80 million had already been withdrawn from the accounts, saying that Chief Ozekhome was right to say that the cat had already been completed and an injunction cannot be granted for act already completed.

    Counsel to Fayose, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who described the verdict as “another victory over tyranny” advised the EFCC to act within the rule of law in its operations.

    Ozekhome said the anti-graft agency will continue to lose cases it filed against suspects in courts until it divorces itself of selective justice and taking biased position  in the politics of the country.

    He said: “This portrayed judiciary as the sentinel on the door of the poor, defenceless and oppressed. Governor Fayose and myself had again been vindicated that EFCC’s operations have not been based on law but on emotion.”

  • Paris refund: Firm returns governor’s N500m to EFCC

    Paris refund: Firm returns governor’s N500m to EFCC

    Agency seeks temporary forfeiture of $3m, N500m 

    A mortgage firm has returned to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the N500 million said to be part of the Paris Club refund kept with it by a governor.

    The EFCC is probing the London-Paris Club refund following allegations that some governors are misapplying the cash.

    The Federal Government agreed to the refund to enable the governors pay workers’ salaries and pensions.

    Besides, the EFCC has gone to a Federal High Court in Abuja to seek the forfeiture of $3million said to be held for another governor by three persons and two companies.

    The agency has placed a no debit order on the three accounts traced to the five suspects, including a member of the House of Representatives, who has gone underground to avoid arrest.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that officials of the mortgage firm also made a statement confirming that the governor owns the N500million.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “When EFCC detectives traced the governor’s loot of N500million from the London-Paris Club refund to the account of the mortgage company, the firm wasted no time in disclosing the source.

    “The mortgage firm has surrendered the cash to us; we have it in our custody.  And on Monday (yesterday), we filed an application before the court for an interim forfeiture of the N500million in order to legalise its custody.

    “The purported owner of the cash has a two-week deadline to come forward to claim it or have it forfeited permanently to the Federal Government.”

    Responding to a question, the source said all those connected with the cash, including some consultancy firms had been named in court.

    The identities of the governor, the companies involved and his proxies, the source added, would be unveiled when the matter comes up in court.

    The governor, he said, has long standing mortgage collaboration with the firm where the N500million was wired.

    On the $3million linked to another governor, the EFCC provided the list of those involved including the names of the two companies, three persons, and the three accounts used.

    Two of the three persons are siblings, including a member of the House of Representatives whose whereabouts was unknown at press time last night.

    The lawmaker was, in the EFCC profile, described as a former commissioner.

    Another source added: “Again, we have asked the court to grant our prayer for the Interim Forfeiture of the $3million. We also attached the list of three banks, three accounts, two companies and three other suspects.

    “As I am talking to you, the EFCC has placed a No Debit Order on the three accounts associated with the $3million which was diverted from the London-Paris Club to build a 100-room hotel for another serving governor. One of the accounts is in a bank noted for domiciliary account business. The two others have been named in some suspicious transactions during the immediate past administration.”

    Detectives, the source said,  suspected that the $3million was part-payment for the construction of the hotel.

    On the extent of investigation of the cash, he said: “One of those questioned over the $3million has actually refunded $500,000.

    “The EFCC team really did a wonderful job in tracking the cash. In fact, a notable project firm, which has had partnership with the governor in the past, was implicated in the $3million deal.

    “We have sought for the seizure of the $3million and the N500million in line with Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004.

    The Presidency has so far released about N1. 266.44trillion to the 36 states in the past one year including N713.70billion special intervention funds to states.

    Following protest by states against over deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of N516.38billion (first tranche) to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as refunds pending reconciliation of records.

    Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion being 25% of the amounts claimed.

    Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said the payment of the claims would enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pension which had been “causing considerable hardship.”

    The governors sought for the loan refunds to states and local governments at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on May 24, last year.

    But the alleged deduction of about N19billion and $86million, meant for payment of consultants and legal advisers, by some governors is under investigation by EFCC.

    Following controversy over the refunds in some states, the Federal Ministry of Finance, through its Director of Information, Salisu Dambatta, had penultimate Friday released the details of the N516.38billion to Nigerians.

    The top earners are Rivers, N34.92b;  Delta, N27.6b; Akwa Ibom, N25.98b; Bayelsa, N24.89b; Kano, N21.7b; Lagos, N16.74b; Katsina, N16.4b; Kaduna, N15.44b;  Borno, N14.68b;  Jigawa, N14.2b; Imo, N14.01b;  Niger, N14.42b;  Bauchi, N13.75b;  Sokoto, N12.88b and Osun, N12.62b.

    Others are Cross River N12.15b;  Anambra, N12.24b;  Edo, N12.18b;  Kebbi, N11.95b;  Kogi, N11.05b; Abia, N11.43b;  Ogun, N11.47b;  Plateau, N11.28b;  Yobe, N10.82b; Zamfara, N10.88b;  Ebonyi, N9.01b;  Ekiti, N9.54b;  Enugu, N10.7b;  Gombe, N8.95b;  Nasarawa, N9.1b;  Oyo, N13.31b;  Kwara, N10.24b; Adamawa, N10.25b; Benue, N13.7b; , Ondo, N14.01b;  Taraba, N9.32b; and  FCT, N1.36b.

     

  • Niger PDP chairman remanded in prison

    Niger PDP chairman remanded in prison

    A Minna High Court on Monday remanded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in Niger State, Barr. Tanko Beji, in prison.

    Beji is arraigned on a one-count charge of aiding and abetting former governor of the state, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, who is also standing trial.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Beji,  Aliyu and Umar Nasko and made the PDP chairman the second accused person in the ex-governor’s trial.

    Beji served as Director General of Aliyu’s campaign organisation when the ex-governor was vying for the second term in office.

    He will remain in prison till Friday when the High Court Judge, Justice Aliyu Maiyaki, will rule on his bail application.

    The counsel to the accused, Olajide Ayodele, urged the court to release his client on bail.

    Ayodele said: “He is a well- known person in the state and the legal profession as such cannot jump bail.”
    The counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Gbolahan Latona, opposed the application, saying the offence for which the PDP chairman was charged was not bailable by virtue of section 341 sub section 2 of the criminal procedure code.

    Justice Maiyaki also ruled that the court has jurisdiction to hear the case.

  • House rejects EFCC’s invitations to members

    House rejects EFCC’s invitations to members

    The House of Representatives has stated the condition under which its members would appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged padding of last year’s budget.

    The invitation of its members over the alleged N284 billion budget padding should be routed through Speaker Yakubu Dogara, it said in a letter to EFCC.

    It said its Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, would not appear before  EFCC if that condition is not met.

    But the commission is weighing its options on whether or not to accept the condition.

    One of the options is to write a fresh letter to the House, asking Ogor and 12 others, in the first batch of those to be interrogated, to report.

    It was however learnt that any member who fails to report to the EFCC might be arrested since representatives do not enjoy immunity.

    It was learnt that the House, in a letter through its Clerk to EFCC, said the proper process is to request for the release of Ogor or any member through the Speaker.

    About 50 members of the House have been short-listed for investigation.

    But 13 members, including four principal officers, are in the first batch of those already slated for questioning on the alleged budget padding.

    The principal officers are Dogara; Deputy Speaker, Lasun Yusuf; Ogor; and House Whip Alhassan Doguwa.

    Only Ogor has been invited for interrogation  by the EFCC.

    The probe followed a petition by former House Appropriation Committee Chairman Abdulmumin Jibrin, who detectives have discovered also has a case to answer.

    Jibrin appeared last week for a five-hour grilling on the allegations and issues isolated against him.

    He is expected back after the EFCC would have interrogated the initial set of 13 lawmakers.

    A source in the commission said: “We have received a letter from the Clerk to the House claiming that he was directed by the Speaker  to tell the EFCC that Ogor or any Representative be invited through the Speaker.

    “We don’t know what informed such a notice but the Clerk was saying it is the norm. We are weighing options including exhausting all hurdles laid by the House.

    “We may write the House but at the end if Ogor and other lawmakers refuse to honour our invitation, we will effect  their arrest.

    “No member of the House has constitutional immunity from investigation and prosecution.”

    Another source said some members of the House were considering legal alternatives to stop the EFCC from investigating them.

    The source added: “Going to court might backfire for the lawmakers because the Supreme Court just delivered a judgment that no one can obtain injunctions against a criminal trial.

    “In the case of Olisa Metuh, the Supreme Court upheld the provisions of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Section 40 of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, which prohibit courts in the country from granting stay of proceedings in criminal trials.”

  • Conduct tribunal chair may face fresh EFCC probe

    Conduct tribunal chair may face fresh EFCC probe

    Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman Justice Danladi Umar may face a fresh probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over some allegations, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The CCT acquitted Senate President Bukola Saraki of a false assets declaration charge on Wednesday.

    The allegations against Umar include  a N10million bribe said to have been collected by him by his Personal Assistant, Ali Gambo Abdullahi.

    The discovery of fresh clues on Umar’s conduct is said to have sparked the planned probe.

    But, a top CCT official said the EFCC had on February 23, 2015 and April 20, 2016 cleared Umar of the alleged N10million bribe.

    A source, who hinted of the planned probe, said Umar may soon be invited for questioning.

    The highly-placed source said: “The anti-graft agency is already probing some allegations against the CCT chairman, including the alleged collection of a N10million bribe and award of contracts. Some of these allegations were actually tabled before the Senate and the House of Representatives.

    “The initial plan was to conduct the investigation during the trial of the Senate President. But the EFCC decided to stay action  in order not to disrupt the judicial process.

    “With the trial over, we are going to interview Justice Umar on these allegations. The details include the payment of N1million in July 2011 from the coffers of the CCT to sponsor his wedding; alleged spending of N15.2million to purchase a Toyota Prado Jeep ‘without following due process; award of contracts for supply of office furniture and fittings in the sum of N11.3million.

    “The contracts were reportedly executed by a ‘supposedly engineering company and not a furniture or supply company.’

    “Other allegations are alleged payment of N4. 2million for the “purchase of welfare items” in a contract executed by a private individual and another N4.2 million for the procurement of external light bulbs”.

    On the allegation against the judge by an online medium, the source said: “We will look at all clues to ascertain whether they are true or not.”

    But the planned investigation generating heat at the tribunal because the EFCC cleared of the alleged N10million bribe.

    A source at the tribunal said: “We suspect foul play because the EFCC cleared Justice Umar in 2015 and 2016  of any wrongdoing. This latest probe may be the aftermath of the judgment of the tribunal which discharged and acquitted the Senate President.

    “I think the EFCC is after a proxy war. The judge is a fair-minded person who has defied pressure to do his job.

    “While the trial of Saraki lasted, he has persistently said he will discharge his duties without fear or favour because he will account to God one day. The EFCC should leave this judge alone. Even until the judgement was delivered, Saraki and his legal team were kept on the edge. This is to show you the level of his fairness.

    “The CCT chairman is not the accounting officer of the tribunal contrary to insinuations. He does not award contracts.  Both the Senate and the House of Representatives investigated the CCT chairman on all these allegations and nothing came out of the probe.”

    The EFCC, in a letter to the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim absolved Umar of bribery allegation.

    The letter signed by its ex-chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde said: “We refer to your letter ref. No. SGF.19./S.24/11/451 dated 23rd February 2015 on the above mentioned case reported by one Mr. Rasheed Taiwo (DCG rtd) of 6AB Milverton Road, Lagos against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar and his Personal Assistant, one Gambo Abdullahi.

    “The complainant who is facing charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal alleged that Justice Umar made direct demand for the sum of N10 million to quash the charges sometimes in 2012. “He disclosed that he was compelled to pay the sum of N1.8 million after persistent inundation with phone calls from Justice Umar, who received the bribe through the Zenith Bank account of one Ali Gambo Abdullahi, his personal Assistant in December, 2012.

    “Investigation was extended to one Hon. Justice G.A Oguntade (Rtd) who confirmed that the complainant informed him in 2012 of the issues he had at the Tribunal and the demand being made by Justice Umar. He disclosed that Justice Umar denied the allegation when he called him.

    “There are indications that the Tribunal Chairman might have demanded and collected money from the complainant through his said Personal Assistant.

    “However, efforts made to recover the telephone handset used by Justice Umar proved abortive, as he claimed that he had lost the telephone in 2012. This has made it impossible to subject it to independent scientific analysis with a view to corroborating the allegation.

    “In the same vein, the complainant could also not make available his telephone set for analysis on the grounds that he had lost it. Justice Umar also admitted that he met privately with the complainant in his chamber at the Tribunal. This is a most unethical and highly suspicious conduct on his part.

    ”There is a prima facie evidence to however prosecute  the Personal  Assistant, Abdullahi, who could offer no coherent excuse for receiving N1.8million into his salary account from Taiwo, who is  an accused person standing trial at the tribunal.

    “The full money has been recovered from him in May 2014 and aptly registered as exhibit. The fact that he made two contradictory statements on the reason he was paid the money, is clearly an attempt to cover up on the  reason the money was paid to him. He has  accordingly been charged to court in charge no. CR/137/2015 pending  at the High Court of FCT, Abuja.

    “However the facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute him for the offence.

    “Above is submitted for the information of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, please.”

    Also, the Secretary to EFCC, Mr. Emamnuel Adegboyega Aremo, in another letter to the SGF on April 20, 2016 exonerated Justice Danladi of corrupt practices.

    The letter said: “We will like to reiterate the Commission’s position in regard to this matter as earlier communicated to you and state that the allegations leveled against Justice Umar were mere suspicions and consequently insufficient to successfully prosecute the offence.”

  • How senator perpetrated N1.5b fraud, by EFCC

    How senator perpetrated N1.5b fraud, by EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that a senator representing Delta North, Peter Nwaoboshi, allegedly defrauded the state of N1.5billion and laundered part of it through a company known as Suiming Nigeria Ltd.

    The commission is praying the court not to discharge an interim order made by Justice Abdullazeez Anka forfeiting a 12-storey building allegedly belonging to the senator.

    EFCC alleged that he acquired the property with part of the money.

    An EFCC operative, Garuba Abubakar, in a counter-affidavit opposing Nwaoboshi’s application, said the former Delta State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got a contract through one of his companies, Bilderberg Enterprises Ltd, to supply new construction equipment to the state Direct Labour Agency at N1,580,000,000.

    The company allegedly imported and supplied used construction equipment rather than brand new ones despite receiving full payment.

    EFCC said Nwaoboshi, with the proceeds, bought the 12-floor building at 29 Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos, from Delta State Government at N805million in the name of Golden Touch Construction Projects Ltd.

    The commission said the senator had “no visible legitimate business venture to generate the amount spent to purchase the said property”.

    According to EFCC, Nwaoboshi has 20 bank accounts which he operates in Nigeria. Companies directly linked to him maintain another 20.

    The commission said the interim forfeiture order granted on April 21 was to preserve the property from being dissipated.

    “A criminal charge will most likely be preferred against the respondents at the conclusion of investigation. As part of our investigation procedure, the first respondent (Nwaoboshi) will be invited very soon after having assembled all incriminating evidence against him before charging him and others to court,” the deponent said.

    EFCC said contrary to the senator’s claim that he sold the property to Suiming Nigeria, the company belongs to him.

    “The first respondent is the alter ego of Suiming Nigeria as contained in his Asset Declaration Form. The first respondent controls the affairs of Suiming Nigeria Ltd, the second (Golden Touch Construction) and third (Bilderberg Enterprises) respondents, but deliberately hides his identity.

    “The purported transaction between second respondent and Suiming Electricals Ltd is a transaction done by one and same person – the first respondent, which is typical of money laundering scheme. It is in the interest of justice to refuse this application,” EFCC said.

    Arguing the application seeking to discharge the forfeiture order, Nwaoboshi’s lawyer, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), said the commission concealed material facts in obtaining the order and did not comply with the EFCC Act, which he said robbed the court of jurisdiction.

    Besides, he said the temporary forfeiture violated his client’s right to own property as guaranteed by Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution, adding that the suit was an abuse of court process.

    “It becomes dangerous for citizens, if the state can seize citizens’ property without a criminal proceeding against them,” he said.

    Idigbe said mere suspicion of crime was not a valid reason to attach a property.

    “There is nothing linking money from the contract to the property,” Idigbe said.

    The SAN said the action was an abuse of court process because there was a pending case at the court’s Asaba division on the same issue.

    “The case in Asaba predated this order. They (EFCC) should have disclosed to your lordship the existence of that case,” Idigbe said.

    But, EFCC’s lawyer Ekele Iheanacho said the right to own property was not absolute, and that a property could be temporarily forfeited during investigation, even if no charge was filed.

    “Arrest is not a condition precedent to forfeiture. The law allows that even though the person has not been arrested, the property can still be attached,” he said.

    On abuse of court, the EFCC lawyer said: “The learned SAN created a heavy storm in a teacup on abuse of court process. The case in Asaba is a civil suit brought under the Civil Procedure Rules and with different parties. The proceeding is entirely different from this.

    “This proceeding is a quasi-criminal matter. There is evidence of money laundering. He did not supply what he was meant to supply. The first respondent has been using the companies as fronts. All the transactions were done by one and same person.

    “We urge the court to reject this application and not to discharge the earlier order made by the court,” Iheanacho prayed.

    Justice Anka adjourned till October 4 for ruling.

  • How Senator perpetrated N1.5b fraud – EFCC

    How Senator perpetrated N1.5b fraud – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that a Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Peter Nwaoboshi, allegedly defrauded the state of N1.5billion and laundered part of it through a company known as Suiming Nigeria Ltd.

    The commission is praying the court not to discharge an interim order made by Justice Abdullazeez Anka forfeiting a 12-storey building allegedly belonging to the Senator.

    EFCC alleged he acquired the property with part of the money.

    An EFCC operative, Garuba Abubakar, in a counter-affidavit opposing Nwaoboshi’s application, said the former Delta State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got a contract through one of his companies, Bilderberg Enterprises Limited, to supply new construction equipment to the state Direct Labour Agency at N1,580,000,000.

    The company allegedly imported and supplied used construction equipment rather than brand new ones despite receiving full payment.

    EFCC said Nwaoboshi, with the proceeds, bought the 12-floor building at 29 Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos, from Delta State Government at N805million in the name of Golden Touch Construction Projects Limited.

    The commission said the Senator had “no visible legitimate business venture to generate the amount spent to purchase the said property.”

    According to EFCC, Nwaoboshi has 20 bank accounts which he operates in Nigeria, while companies directly linked to him maintain another 20.

    The commission said the interim forfeiture order granted on April 21 was to preserve the property from being dissipated.

    “A criminal charge will most likely be preferred against the respondents at the conclusion of investigation. As part of our investigation procedure, the first respondent (Nwaoboshi) will be invited very soon after having assembled all incriminating evidence against him before charging him and others to court,” the deponent said.

    EFCC said contrary to the Senator’s claim that he sold the property to Suiming Nigeria, the company belongs to him.

    “The first respondent is the alter ego of Suiming Nigeria as contained in his Asset Declaration Form. The first respondent controls the affairs of Suiming Nigeria Limited, the second (Golden Touch Construction) and third (Bilderberg Enterprises) respondents, but deliberately hides his identity.

    “The purported transaction between second respondent and Suiming Electricals Limited is a transaction done by one and same person – the first respondent, which is typical of money laundering scheme. It is in the interest of justice to refuse this application,” EFCC added.

     

  • Malabu’s $1.1b scam: EFCC plans to extraditing Adoke

    Malabu’s $1.1b scam: EFCC plans to extraditing Adoke

    THE Federal Government said yesterday that it is making necessary arrangements to extradite a former Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Mohammed Adoke, to face charges for alleged fraud.

    Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Johnson Ojogbanesaid this day in Abuja.

    The EFCC charged Adoke and two multinational oil companies, Shell and ENI, to court for their roles in the Malabu $1.1 billion scam.

    The money was paid by the oil firms into a Nigerian government account in London for OPL 245, an oil block considered one of the richest in Africa.

    Adoke then authorised the transfer of the funds into private accounts of former Petroleum Minister Dan Etete, in controversial circumstances.

    Over $800 million of the money was eventually transferred.

    Most of the money is believed to have ended in private pockets of officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, including Adoke, who has, however, denied any wrongdoing.

    Justice John Tsoho had fixed yesterday for arraignment of  Adoke and the other co-defendants, including Etete.

    Ojogbane, however, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the matter could not proceed because the EFCC had been unable to get Adoke and other defendants.

    “The matter was adjourned until today for arraignment of the defendants, but up till now, we have not been able to secure the attendance of most of the defendants, because they are outside jurisdiction; that is, they are outside the country.

    “The Federal Government is doing everything within its powers to bring them back to Nigeria so that they can face their trial.

    “The government will take steps, in collaboration with the international police, to locate them and bring them back to Nigeria through extradition, which is a very cumbersome process. But it will be done,” Ojogbane said.

    He said the court adjourned the matter until October 26, after the court’s vacation to enable the process of bringing Adoke and others back to Nigeria to be intensified.

    Adoke, who had initially pledged to make himself available for trial, made a u-turn, saying he feared he would not be treated fairly by the EFCC.

    The EFCC had in December 2016, charged nine suspects, including Adoke, over the purchase of OPL 245.

    The Federal Government had also on March 2, filed fresh charges against Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited and Agip Nigeria Exploration Limited, a subsidiary of ENI, for alleged complicity in the Malabu $1.1 billion scandal.

    Adoke, Etete, Aliyu Abubakar, ENI Spa, Ralph Wetzels, Casula Roberto, Pujatti Stefeno, Burrafati Sebestiano and Malabu Oil and Gas were charged along side the two multinational oil companies.

  • NPAN, editors, IPC slam EFCC raid on The Sun

    The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos-Nigeria have condemned the invasion of the premises of The Sun Publishing Limited by heavily armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the early hours of Monday.

    The fierce-looking operatives prevented workers of the organisation from either entering or leaving its premises and, in the process, disrupted the circulation processes.

    In separate statements, NPAN, NGE and IPC said they received the news of the invasion with grave concern.

    NPAN President Nduka Obaigbena’s statement reads: “Facts before the NPAN indicate that the EFCC operatives swooped on the newspaper in the early morning of June 12,  while Nigerians were commemorating the historic day of free expression, and  ordered  security men to take them on a guided tour of the premises of the newspaper.

    “The EFCC operatives subsequently prevented journalists and staff from performing their constitutional duties, and abridging their rights to free speech by preventing those who were in the premises from leaving, and others reporting for duty from entering the premises.

    “Although the EFCC  said they were there to enforce a 10-year old Interim Order of Forfeiture on the shareholding of Sun Newspapers, the editors of the Sun Newspapers said the EFCC officials were there on a vengeance and intimidation mission to settle scores on several stories published by the newspaper, including the alleged ownership of certain properties by the wife of the EFCC Acting Chairman for which the Acting  Chairman had threatened libel lawsuits.

    “Instead of lawsuits,  the EFCC operatives raided the newspaper offices to revive a 10-year old  Interim Order of Forfeiture that is already before an appellate court.

    “Given these developments, it is our considered view that the EFCC, being a state institution and a creation of the law, cannot be above the law: and the manner of the invasion tends to suggest that the EFCC was out on a self-help mission, a voyage to intimidate journalists, criminalise journalism  and cower free speech.

    “We should continue to remind ourselves that this crude tactics of invasion of  media houses and harassment of journalists did not work in the past,  is not going to work now, and will never work. It is unknown to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and all people of reason  and goodwill to call the EFCC to order for the greater good of the Federal Republic Nigeria and the rule of law.”

    NGE President Funke Egbèmode, in a statement, said the unwarranted siege to the company subjected workers to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma.

    The EFCC, she added, had accused The Sun of publishing pro-Biafra, Boko Haram and Niger Delta militant stories.

    The statement reads: “The latest action of the EFCC on a newspaper house is a sad reminder of the dark years of military dictatorship and a deliberate effort to muzzle the press.

    “As a statutory agency birthed by an Act of Parliament in a democracy, we had expected the EFCC to explore civil means of addressing perceived infraction by a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian

    democratic project.

    “Rather than see the Fourth Estate of the Realm as an opposition, the commission should realise that the media is an indispensable partner in its fight against corruption.

    “The Guild notes that the latest affront on The Sun by operatives of the EFCC is one in a number of targeted attempts by a section of the nation’s security agency to gag free press. We recall the recent expulsion of Mr. Olalekan Adetayo, the State House correspondent of Punch Newspapers from Aso Rock by Bashir Abubakar, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    It added: “The alleged forfeiture order the EFCC brandished is 10 years old and a matter still before the Court of Appeal. The Guild wonders why the commission felt it had to act ahead of a case before a court of competent jurisdiction. It bears restating that such an attempt to intimidate the media does incalculable damage to the image of the EFCC and indeed the Nigerian government. Besides, it does not only undermine the foundation of our young democracy, it is a major threat to its sustenance and existence.

    “The Guild condemns the EFCC action in its entirety and calls on the commission to purge itself of all anti-democratic tendencies in order to foster mutual cooperation with the media and other stakeholders in its crusade against graft.”.

    The IPC described the invasion as a violation of the individual rights of the journalists and media workers, besides constituting an assault on press freedom.

    Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, in a statement, said the act was uncalled for.

    According to him, it was a twist of irony that the invasion occurred on June 12, a day traditionally associated with the vanguard role that the media played in  the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.

    Arogundade said: “The EFCC owed the nation as a whole and the media and freedom of expression community in particular, an explanation for the unwelcome raid.”

  • ‘N284b budget padding’: EFCC grills Jibrin for hours

    ‘N284b budget padding’: EFCC grills Jibrin for hours

    The budget padding allegation which rocked the House of Representatives last year has returned to the front burner.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday grilled former House Committee on Appropriations chairman Abdulmumin Jibrin for five hours over the about N284billion budget padding claim.

    It was learnt that Jibrin released fresh evidence to his interrogators.

    Sources described the “fresh insights” as “startling”.

    According to findings by our correspondent, Jibrin arrived at the EFCC Headquarters around 11am  for the session.

    He left at 4pm after what was described as an “interesting session”.

    Jibrin is the first lawmaker to be quizzed in the  first phase of the probe which is starting with 13 persons.

    About 50 members of the House, including four principal officers,  have been shortlisted for quizzing.

    The principal officers are Speaker Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Speaker Lasun Yusuf; Minority Leader Leo Ogor; and House Whip Alhassan Doguwa.

    Ogor has been invited for interrogation on Friday.

    The probe followed a petition by Jibrin, who sources said, detectives have discovered also has a case to answer.

    Jibrin’s July 29, 2016 petition was sent through Hammart and Company, Doka Chambers, and Law Bond Solicitors.

    The signatories  are Mohammed Abdulhamid( Hammart and Company); A.B. Bako

    ( Doka Chambers)  and C. Nwachukwu (Law Bond Solicitors).

    A top source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “Our detectives interrogated Jibrin for about five hours on his petition. He cooperated with our team by buttressing his allegations with  documents. He gave detectives fresh insights into the padding of the budget leading to more startling revelations. From the interesting session, this budget padding is deeper than we tought.

    “We are going to look into fresh clues provided by Jibrin who also has questions to answer on some constituency projects. I think more than two-thirds of members of the House were implicated in the budget padding. We will however restrict ourselves to 50 peculiar suspects.”

    The allegations are:

    • Inclusion of N20billion wasteful projects by House leaders.
    • Unilateral diversion of  N40billion,  out of the N100billion allocated for constituency projects, by some House leaders and distribution of  same to themselves.
    • Chairmen of about 10 of the 96 standing committees of the House inserted over 2,000 projects worth about N284billion.
    • Creation of  a strange line item in the Service Wide Vote to allow for a N20billion insertion into the budget under the name of the National Assembly.
    • Relocation of Appropriations Committee Secretariat on two occasions  where several insertions were made into the budget
    • Diversion of a Federal Government water project to a personal  farm in Nasarawa State and the source of funding.
    • Monthly deduction of funds from votes  meant for members’ office running cost to fund a so-called mortgage arrangement.
    • Abuse of office through frequent private meetings with heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) in a clear case of corruption and conflict of interest.
    • Some leaders allocated 20 per cent inputs reserved for the House the harmonisation exercise.”